Lady Tigers win area title

The Hartselle Softball Team accepts the area championship trophy Thursday afternoon. | Clif Knight

Hartselle High School’s Lady Tigers posted three straight wins to claim the championship title in the Class 5A, Area 13 tournament at the Grady and Margie Long Softball Complex in Hartselle on Thursday afternoon.

In the title game, they defeated Cullman 7-3 after scoring three runs in the top of seventh inning on a solo home run, a walk and back-to-back doubles.  The Lady Bearcats grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning but Hartselle countered with four runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. Cullman tied the game in the fifth on the strength of back-to-back singles and a double.

The win ensured the Lady Tigers of a No. 1 seeding in the Northeast Regional Tournament in Huntsville next week. Cullman also qualified for the tournament as the Area 13 runner-up.

Ashley Bonner paced the Lady Tigers at the plate with a double and a pair of singles. Katie Gentle had a home run and a double. Jacquie Shadden doubled and singled. Golden had a solo home run. Chelsea Bennich doubled and Leah Robinson added a single.

Breanna Riley pitched 2 2/3 innings and was credited with the win. She allowed no hits and walked two. Abby McHugh pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while giving up a walk, hitting a batter and striking our two.

The Lady Tigers defeated West Point 16-1 in the opening round of play and reached the final by defeating Cullman 12-0. Cullman reached the title game with a 6-3 win over West Point.